A Thomas Jones Afternoon

Thomas Austin Jones is known to the Lincoln assassination field for his role in aiding John Wilkes Booth and David Herold during their escape. After arriving at the home of Confederate sympathizer Col. Samuel Cox, John Wilkes Booth and David Herold were led to a nearby pine thicket to hide while Cox called for his foster-brother, Thomas Jones. Cox told Jones in no uncertain terms, “Tom, we must get those men…across the river.” Jones had been a chief agent of the Confederacy and later wrote the following about his duties and role:

“…I contracted with Col. William Norris, Chief of the Signal Service of the Confederacy, to act as Chief Agent for Maryland to forward all dispatches and other papers connected with the Confederacy, and to furnish said government with files of northern papers which were supplied promptly with but little interruption, receiving said papers the next morning after their publication. Also, it was part of my duty to aid all Confederate scouts and agents to and from Richmond who came with proper passes from the proper authority in Richmond…”

Jones was arrested and imprisoned for his treasonous activities in 1861. After signing an oath of allegiance he was released in March of 1862. He returned to his home in Charles County, MD and continued his secret mail line. When Booth and Herold were left in his care, Jones was vital at keeping them hidden and supplied with food and water while waiting for a chance to put the two men across the river to Virginia. After hiding out in the pine thicket for five days, Jones finally got the chance he was waiting for and sent Booth and Herold off in a boat on the evening of April 20th. Jones was subsequently arrested in the government’s round-up of possible conspirators and sympathizers. With knowledge or evidence of how vital Jones had been to the assassins, the government released him in June of 1865. Jones lived out his life quietly until, many years later, he admitted to journalist George Alfred Townsend of his involvement in the great saga. He wrote his own book recounting his time caring for Booth and Herold. Though it did not sell well in Jones’ time, it is now referenced often today. Thomas Jones died in March of 1895.

The following are some of the pictures I took today as I visited some of the sites associated with this very honorable man.

Huckleberry, one of Thomas Jones’ homes in Charles County, Md and the one he was living in at the time of Lincoln’s assassination.

Port Tobacco, MD. In addition to being the residence of conspirator George Atzerodt before he became involved in Booth’s scheme, it was also the location of a meeting between Thomas Jones and detective William Williams.

As stated on the sign, detective William Williams offered $100,000 to anyone in the Brawner hotel who could furnish him with information that would lead to the capture of Booth. Thomas Jones was there but kept silent even though he was the one caring for Booth and Herold as they hid in the pine thicket. The Brawner hotel was once located in the background of the photograph.

The grave of Thomas A. Jones located in St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Newport, MD.

When asked by author Osborn Oldroyd if he ever considered Williams’ $100,000 offer to betray Booth, Jones responded:

“No, indeed; my word could not be bought for a hundred times that amount. I considered it a sacred trust. The little I had accumulated was irrevocably lost, but, thank God, I still possessed something I could call my own, and its name was honor.”

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4 thoughts on “A Thomas Jones Afternoon”

Nice pics, Dave. I saw the ruins of the Brawner tavern many years ago. By “ruins,” , I mean there was nothing left except some of the brick foundation. It was James Barbour, proprietor of the Old Quenzel Book Shop who showed it to me. I took away one of the bricks, and I still have it.. Oh, my God; this is s-o- weird. I am watching the “Oscars” as I write this, and just realized that as I write this, in response to your THOMAS JONES post, I am watching another Thomas Jones — Tommy LEE Jones — fail to get the Oscar for best supporting actor in “Lincoln.”! (Too bad; I think he deserved it. But then, I like him in everything he does.

Huckleberry will be open for tours as part of the Charles County Garden Club tour on Saturday May 28, 2016. I will be at Huckleberry on that day to give tours and provide history. You can get more information here: http://www.mhgp.org/charles-2016

Dave & Kate’s Speaking Engagements in 2019

Want to come heckle BoothieBarn authors Dave & Kate Taylor in person? Here are some of our public speaking engagements planned for the future.

Date: Saturday, April 6, 2019Location: Perryville branch of the Cecil County Library (500 Coudon Blvd. Perryville, MD 21903)Time: 1:00 pmmSpeech: The Making of an Assassin: The History of John Wilkes BoothSpeaker: Dave TaylorDescription: How did John Wilkes Booth go from celebrated actor to villainous assassin? In his speech, Dave will recount the life of John Wilkes Booth and what led him to the Presidential box at Ford’s Theatre.Cost: Free

Date: Wednesday, April 10, 2019Location: Lynchburg Civil War Round Table (4009 Murray Place, Lynchburg, Virginia 24501)Time: 7:45 pmSpeech: The Making of an Assassin: The History of John Wilkes BoothSpeaker: Dave TaylorDescription: How did John Wilkes Booth go from celebrated actor to villainous assassin? In his speech, Dave will recount the life of John Wilkes Booth and what led him to the Presidential box at Ford’s Theatre.Cost: Cost for the talk is $5. Guests are also welcome to come for the buffet dinner starting at 7:00 pm but the cost for that is $25. Information can be found at: https://www.historicsandusky.org/lcwrt

Date: Sunday, May 5, 2019Location: Thomas Stone National Historic Site (6655 Rose Hill Rd, Port Tobacco, MD 20677)Time: TBDSpeech: Frederick Stone: A Life of Service and SecretsSpeaker: Dave TaylorDescription: Frederick Stone was the great nephew of Thomas Stone, one of the Maryland signers of the Declaration of Independence. Though he never knew his illustrious relative, Frederick lived for a time at his great uncle’s estate of Haber-de-venture before being educated in the law. His lifetime of public service would lead him from lawyer to commissioner to delegate to judge. Along the way, however, Frederick Stone became involved in one of the most traumatic events in our nation’s history: the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. In his speech, researcher Dave Taylor will explore the life of Frederick Stone and the secrets he carried with him about the death of Abraham Lincoln.Cost: Free

Date: Sunday, June 2, 2019Location: Tudor Hall (17 Tudor Ln, Bel Air, MD 21015)Time: 2:00 pmSpeech: “Born Under an Unlucky Star”: The Childhood of John Wilkes BoothSpeaker: Dave TaylorDescription: In this speech, Dave will examine the boyhood of John Wilkes Booth – his familial relationships, his time growing up at Tudor Hall and in Baltimore, and his early education. More information can be found at: http://spiritsoftudorhall.blogspot.com/2016/11/make-plans-to-visit-tudor-hall-in-2017_7.htmlCost: $5.00 cash for the talk and a tour of Tudor Hall

Date: Sunday, July 7, 2019Location: Tudor Hall (17 Tudor Ln, Bel Air, MD 21015)Time: 2:00 pmSpeech: “Brides of Bluebeard”: The Women Who Loved John Wilkes BoothSpeaker: Kate TaylorDescription: John Wilkes Booth was a Romeo both on and off the stage. In her speech, Kate will address some of the romantic relationships that defined the handsome actor who went on to assassinate President Lincoln. More information can be found at: http://spiritsoftudorhall.blogspot.com/2016/11/make-plans-to-visit-tudor-hall-in-2017_7.htmlCost: $5.00 cash for the talk and a tour of Tudor Hall

Date: Sunday, September 15, 2019Location: Tudor Hall (17 Tudor Ln, Bel Air, MD 21015)Time: 2:00 pmSpeech: “Brides of Bluebeard”: The Women Who Loved John Wilkes BoothSpeaker: Kate TaylorDescription: John Wilkes Booth was a Romeo both on and off the stage. In her speech, Kate will address some of the romantic relationships that defined the handsome actor who went on to assassinate President Lincoln. More information can be found at: http://spiritsoftudorhall.blogspot.com/2016/11/make-plans-to-visit-tudor-hall-in-2017_7.htmlCost: $5.00 cash for the talk and a tour of Tudor Hall

Date: Sunday, October 13, 2019Location: Tudor Hall (17 Tudor Ln, Bel Air, MD 21015)Time: 2:00 pmSpeech: “Born Under an Unlucky Star”: The Childhood of John Wilkes BoothSpeaker: Dave TaylorDescription: In this speech, Dave will examine the boyhood of John Wilkes Booth – his familial relationships, his time growing up at Tudor Hall and in Baltimore, and his early education. More information can be found at: http://spiritsoftudorhall.blogspot.com/2016/11/make-plans-to-visit-tudor-hall-in-2017_7.htmlCost: $5.00 cash for the talk and a tour of Tudor Hall